John 11:38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself comes to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay on it. I. THE GROANS OF JESUS. 1. Over mortal man. He felt as with an electric shock that He was in a world of pain and infirmity. 2. Over sorrowing man. Jesus sympathized with sorrow as sorrow. He was moved by the mere contagiousness of grief. 3. Over unbelieving man. The sisters and the Jews alike lacked faith, and lack of faith always troubled Him. There might be more than one feeling here. (1) an oppressive sense of loneliness. (2) A deep conviction of the guilt of unbelief. (3) A distressing feeling of the miseries of unbelief. II. THE WORDS OF JESUS. 1. He spoke to God (ver. 41) — a thanksgiving for an answer not yet vouchsafed to an unrecorded prayer. 2. He spoke to men — "Take ye away the stone." This was the work of man, and therefore not included in the scope of the miracle. And in religion we have a part to play as well as God. He gives the grace, we must use it. "Work out your own salvation." III. THE WORK OF JESUS. 1. Direct resurrection: here physical; in us moral. 2. Indirect. (1) Faith; as an effect of the miracle (ver. 45). (2) Unbelief and animosity (ver. 46). (Caleb Morris.) Parallel Verses KJV: Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. |
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